Any badminton game starts with a shuttler making a serve to the opponent. It may seem a small thing in the whole context of the sport. But it is not.
Delivering a serve in the right way is an important aspect of badminton. And if you fail to do so, it may cost you a point.
So, in this piece, we’ll look at some of the important badminton service rules you must know.
Hit the Shuttle with the Racket
Your serve will be valid if you hit the shuttle with your racket and it flies in your opponent’s court. Plus, it should not get stuck in the net or go out of the bounds of the playing surface. If any of the two things happen, then your opponent will receive a point.
Your Feet Should be in Contact with the Surface
When hitting the shuttle with the racket, both feet need to be in contact with the surface. It’s not necessary to have the whole foot on the floor, but at least some part of it.
And this rule is applicable on the server as well as the receiver, with both not allowed to move or lift their feet until the serve is delivered.
Your Feet Should Not Touch Court Lines
Now that your feet are on the surface, you need to make sure that they are not touching any lines marked on the court. This is applicable while serving and receiving the shuttle.
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Shuttle Need to be Below the Waist
When serving the shuttle, you need to keep one thing in mind. When you are about to hit the shuttle, it needs to be completely below your waistline.
No Delay in Service
When both server and receiver are ready in their positions, there should not be any delay in serving the shuttle. There is no time limit as such for a serve, but if you delay it, then it will be a fault.
Position while Serving
While serving the shuttle, the position of the server and receiver needs to be diagonal on the court. When the game begins, the server stands on the right side of their court, and so does the receiver on their right side. This is the position of both shuttlers when the server wins an even point.
The positions, though, change if the server wins an odd point, with both shuttlers standing on the left side.
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